Pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator and dispenser

ABSTRACT

An applicator tube having a longitudinal side slot containing a roll of pressure sensitive sheeting with a backing strip, that is extended through the slot and manually separated for a small distance; the exposed bare sheeting is initially adhered to the starting point on the flat surface. A compressible pressure bar protrudes outwardly from the external face of the tube at the edge of the slot and is enclosed by a smooth covering whose ends are joined and extend inwardly through the slot and fixed therealong to the internal face of the tube. By now moving the applicator tube the backing strip is automatically separated without need of pull by hand, as the stripped paper is pulled from the roll in the tube over the covered slot edge and compressible pressure bar and adhered thereby to the flat surface. The tube ends are closed by plugs which can be adjusted for different length rolls to stay them against axial displacement therewithin. When the applicator is used in a corner one plug is removed and the opposite end plug is forced inwardly to locate the exposed roll end into the corner against the intersecting surface.

United States Patent [191 Pre'isler [4 1 Jan. 21, 1975 1 PRESSURE SENSITIVE ROLLED SI-IEETING APPLICATOR AND DISPENSER [76] Inventor: Samuel L. Preisler, 3210 Ave. 11.,

Brooklyn, NY. 11210 221 Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 325,872

Primary Examiner-Douglas J. Drummond Assistant Examiner-M. G. Wityshyn ABSTRACT An applicator tube having a longitudinal side slot containing a roll of pressure sensitive sheeting with a backing strip, that is extended through the slot and manually separated for a small distance; the exposed bare sheeting is initially adhered to the starting point on the flat surface. A compressible pressure bar protrudes outwardly from the external face of the tube at the edge of the slot and is enclosed by a smooth covering whose ends are joined and extend inwardly through the slot and fixed therealong to the internal face of the tube. By now moving the applicator tube the backing strip is automatically separated without need of pull by hand, as the stripped paper is pulled from the roll in the tube over the covered slot edge and compressible pressure bar and adhered thereby to the flat surface. The tube ends are closed by plugs which can be adjusted for different length rolls to stay them against axial displacement therewithin. When the applicator is used in a corner one plug is removed and the opposite end plug is forced inwardly to locate the exposed roll end into the corner against the intersecting surface.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PRESSURE SENSITIVE ROLLED SHEETING APPLICATOR AND DISPENSER This invention relates to a pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator and dispenser.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pressure sensitive sheeting applicator and dispenser which will automatically remove without hand pull the adhered back covering strip and that can smooth-down the pressure sensitive sheeting so that it is adhered smoothly upon the flat surface being covered therewith.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pressure sensitized sheeting applicator and dispenser in which the sheeting roll therein will be held firmly against axial displacement within the applicator tube or dispenser while dispensing the sheeting material.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a pressure sensitive sheeting applicator and dispenser in the form of a tube which is closed by plug elements which are adjustable in the respective ends of the tube and which can be removed if necessary in order that the edge of the sheeting material can be located in a corner provided by an intersecting wall surface with the flat surface being covered with the sheeting material and wherein either one of the plugs is adjustable in the respective ends of the applicator tube to hold the paper roll tightly against axial displacement.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator and dispenser with a pressure bar that is soft and will conform to the surface being covered and at the same time will readily allow the sensitized sheeting automatically made free of its backing strip to be smoothly applied to the surface being covered with the paper and will remove any air bubbles that may have a tendency to be formed under the sheeting, as the paper or plastic is being applied and will locate the paper in any small wall depressions so that there is a full adhesion of the sheeting throughout the entire area of the surface being covered.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a way of applying pressure-sensitive sheet material such as paper, plastic, metal foil or the like in which cutting of the material as wall paper is not necessary prior to its application to the surface being covered.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pressure sensitive paper applicator having the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, easy to use, durable, adapted for more than one application of sheeting material, efficient and effective in use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the applicator and dispenser being used upon a flat surface and serving to simultaneously remove the backing strip or covering to expose the tacky adherent surface of the rolled sheeting and apply pressure to the opposite face of the sheeting to adhere it to the flat surface being covered.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the applicator taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking upon the edges of the backing strip or covering and of the sheeting being adhered to the flat surface being covered.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the applicator as viewed generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with the applicator pressed against a flat vertical surface and with one end of the applicator being broken away to show the construction thereof and of a closure plug therein, the applicator being used generally for the application of sheeting over the flat surface removed from a corner construction or intersecting perpendicular surface.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 3 but with one end plug removed and the applicator adapted to be operated in a corner to have one edge of the sheeting lie adjacent to the intersecting wall thereof, the plug on the opposite end of the applicator being more inwardly pressed to locate the further edge of the sheeting roll in the corner.

This invention comprises generally a slotted cylinder or tube 10 capable of receiving a roll of pressure sensitive sheeting material 1] of paper, plastic or metal foil having a pressure-sensitive permanent adhesive thereon and a backing strip or removable covering 12 joined with a pressure sensitive sheeting 13 when in the roll 11 but adapted to be severed from one another when passed through a cut slot or longitudinal opening 14 in the applicator 10 extending from one end of the tube through the other end, and over a pressure bar 16 fixed over both to the inner face and the outer face of one cut and squared edge of the slot 14 of the applicator tube 10 as best seen in FIG. 2 and formed of a spongy or soft or rubber-like material or padding running the full length of the applicator and enclosed in a smooth covering preferably of flexible and goodwearing plastic sheet joined at its ends and rolled over the one squared edge of the slot 14 and joined preferable adhered with the inner face thereof as indicated at 17. This pressure bar 16 is generally soft and deformable but smooth on its exterior and when using the applicator tube 10 in applying pressure to the pressure sensitive sheeting 13 with the back covering strip 12 having been removed during the operation by a simple downward sweeping movement of the applicator in the directions of arrow 18, FIG. 2, the covering backing strip 12 is separated from the pressure sensitive sheeting 13 as the pressure sensitive sheeting material will have adhered to the surface 19 of a flat area of a wall or horizontal structure so that the removed covering strip 12 is automatically or simultaneously freed or severed without hand pull and will be directed as indicated by the arrow 18 in the same direction as the arrow 18 and that of the movement of the applicator 10. The applicator is held by the hand strongly against the surface 19 so that the pressure bar 16 will while fixing the pressure sensitive sheeting material 13 to the surface 19 remove and force downwardly any air that may have collected under the sheeting l9 and rid it of any air bubbles that may have been formed. The compressible sponge-like bar material will accommodate any slight protrusions or bulges or undulations so as to make for a smooth adhesion thereover or therearound.

The pressure sensitive sheeting 13 at the start of the operation is removed from the covering strip by hand and first anchored to or put in contact with the flat surface 19 to be covered with the sheeting. Very little anchoring of the paper is necessary as the adhesive is strong and with the surface being flat good adherence is effected immediately with the surface. The sheeting 13 is self-adhering and when in the roll 11 its tacky surface is unexposed and the covering surface strip 12 is automatically removed once the sheeting has been anchored to the surface and the applicator with the more or less endless roll is moved downwardly over the surface being covered in the direction of the arrow 18. The covering of the pressure bar being soft and smooth and extending over the cut and squared edge of the slot 14 provides for a smooth surface on the edge of the slot 14 so that the pressure sensitive sheeting 13 passes thereover in a frictionless manner. The backing strip 12 separates automatically, because of the squared and unrounded edge, from the pressure sensitive sheeting l3 adhesive thus freeing itself with hand pull so that it can move ahead of the applicator by gravity when a vertical surface is being covered or by simply the operator lifting the same ahead of the applicator with the pulling of the applicator as the backing strip lengthens at the ending of the stroke down to the floor or upon a side stroke of the applicator across a wall surface. Once the attachment of the pressure sensitive paper has been made with the surface 19 and movement of the applicator is started there is little opportunity for the backing strip to reengage itself with the pressure sensitive sheeting once the joined pieces have been passed through the slot 14 from the roll 11 within the applicator tube 10. The applicator tube is provided with two plugs 21 and 22 which are both hollow and cup-shaped so as to provide a closed-end surface such as shown at 22 in the plug 21 to engage with the end of the roll 11. The sheeting roll 11 is of much less length than the applicator tube 10 and accordingly the plugs 21 and 22 are well seated within the applicator tube 10 and are frictionally retained therein so that there is little chance of them being displaced while the applicator is being used and at the same time the applicator can be adapted to different widths of sheeting rolls so that the sheeting rolls will always be held against axial movement within the applicator. The applicator tube 10 and the plugs 21 and 22 may be made from cardboard, plastic or metal 'tubing.

As seen in FIG. 4, the plug 21 has been removed from the applicator 10 to adapt the applicator to the application of the sheeting into a corner 23 of a wall construction bearing the flat surface 19. In this situation, the plug 22 at the opposite end of applicator tube is pressed further into the tube so that the bare opposite edge of the sheeting roll will engage the wall-intersecting perpendicular surface indicated at 24 thereby placing the end of the pressure bar into the corner 23. At the same time it will be noted that the plug 22 has been pushed inwardly to a greater extent than shown in FIG. 3. By using the applicator with the hand and with the same downward motion after anchoring the pressure sensitive sheeting material to the flat surface and at the same time applying sufflcient force to keep the applicator not only on the surface 19 but against the surface 24 in the corner 23, the paper edge will be fixed well within the corner and without any showing of the flat surface 19. The backing strip or covering 12 will become a free agent in the same manner as above described and will separate from the tacky adhesive of the sheeting material 13 and move ahead of the applicator. The applicator is held solidly and with adequate pressure against the wall surfaces preferably with two hands to maintain the desired alignment on the flat surface while the roll of sheeting rotates within the applicator tube and emerges or extrudes through the tube slot 14.

If the backing is not released from the adhesive readily and moving freely in the same direction as the applicator, see that the slot 14 is open and away from the front surface 19 being covered at least the distance of the pressure bar assembly 16. Hold the applicator tube against the surface with one hand while with the other hand removes and pulls the back strip to free it of the slot 14 but once free there is no need for hand pull of the backing strip. On vertical walls two hands can be used because the backing strip is more prone to separate and run free. At the end of the stroke over the surface, the sheeting can be severed with a knife. There has been eliminated the need to pre-cut the paper length size as is done with ordinary wall papering procedure.

It should now be apparent that there has now been provided a simple and effective pressure sensitive sheeting applicator and dispenser for the automatic removal of the backing strip from pressure sensitive sheeting and the simultaneous adhering of the pressure sensitive sheeting to the flat surface being covered therewith. Also, no measuring or precutting of the sheeting is necessary with this applicator the paper is applied directly from a roll. The difficult operations required for applying wall paper have been more or less eliminated.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction of the applicator, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator and dispenser for automatically and simultaneously removing a backing strip from a roll of pressure-sensitive sheeting being applied to a flat surface which comprises a rigid cylindrical tube slotted throughout its length and having opposing slot edges, pressure bar means formed of compressible and deformable material of equal section throughout its length and protruding outwardly from the external surface of the tube, said compressible and deformable bar means extending the full length of the slot, said pressure sensitive sheeting upon having its roll end adhered to a flat wall surface that is to be covered therewith and smoothed thereover by the compressible and deformable pressure bar means is automatically and simultaneously made free of the backing strip upon movement of the applicator over the wall surface and with the pressure bar means forcing the severed pressure sensitive sheeting against the wall surface to smooth out the pressure sensitive sheeting as it is being adhered to the flat wall surface, said pressure sensitive sheeting being separable from the backing strip as the pressure sensitive sheeting is pulled over the slot edge from the wall surface upon the movement of the applicator with the compressible and deformable bar means over the wall surface and said compressible and deformable bar means including a sponge rubberlike compressible pressure bar and smooth flexible wear sheet covering enclosing the compressible pressure bar with its ends radially overlapping and joined to one another, said overlapping and joined free ends extending inwardly over the slot edge and joined to the internal face of the tube, whereby to provide a continuous smooth surface from the interior of the tube, over the slot face and the external sponge rubber-like compressible pressure bar protruding outwardly from the external surface of the tube.

2. A pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator l, dispenser as defined in claim 1 and plug members adapted to fit tightly and respectively in the opposite ends of the slotted applicator tube to different distances thereof corresponding to the length of the sheeting roll being used.

3. An applicator as defined in claim 2, and said plug members being removable to allow shifting of the sheeting roll to the end of the applicator tube in order that the edge thereof may be applied into a corner of the surface defined by an intersecting wall therewith, and the opposite plug member slidable into the tube to plicator tube. 

1. A pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator and dispenser for automatically and simultaneously removing a backing strip from a roll of pressure-sensitive sheeting being applied to a flat surface which comprises a rigid cylindrical tube slotted throughout its length and having opposing slot edges, pressure bar means formed of compressible and deformable material of equal section throughout its length and protruding outwardly from the external surface of the tube, said compressible and deformable bar means extending the full length of the slot, said pressure sensitive sheeting upon having its roll end adhered to a flat wall surface that is to be covered therewith and smoothed thereover by the compressible and deformable pressure bar means is automatically and simultaneously made free of the backing strip upon movement of the applicator over the wall surface and with the pressure bar means forcing the severed pressure sensitive sheeting against the wall surface to smooth out the pressure sensitive sheeting as it is being adhered to the flat wall surface, said pressure sensitive sheeting being separable from the backing strip as the pressure sensitive sheeting is pulled over the slot edge from the wall surface upon the movement of the applicator with the compressible and deformable bar means over the wall surface and said compressible and deformable bar means including a sponge rubber-like compressible pressure bar and smooth flexible wear sheet covering enclosing the compressible pressure bar with its ends radially overlapping and joined to one another, said overlapping and joined free ends extending inwardly over the slot edge and joined to the internal face of the tube, whereby to provide a continuous smooth surface from the interior of the tube, over the slot face and the external sponge rubber-like compressible pressure bar protruding outwardly from the external surface of the tube.
 2. A pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator 1, dispenser as defined in claim 1 and plug members adapted to fit tightly and respectively in the opposite ends of the slotted applicator tube to different distances thereof corresponding to the length of the sheeting roll being used.
 3. An applicator as defined in claim 2, and said plug members being removable to allow shifting of the sheeting roll to the end of the applicator tube in oRder that the edge thereof may be applied into a corner of the surface defined by an intersecting wall therewith, and the opposite plug member slidable into the tube to engage the opposite end of the roll and maintain the same well within the corner upon the wall surface and against the intersecting wall whereby the edge of the pressure sensitive sheeting will close upon the corner of the wall construction.
 4. A pressure sensitive rolled sheeting applicator and dispenser as defined in claim 2, and the plug members fitting tightly within the ends of the slotted tube and engaging tightly with the radially overlapping and joined ends of the pressure bar covering material to ensure their tight engagement with the inner surface of the applicator tube. 